Four-color magazine pencil



March 18, 1952 F. WAGNER FOUR-COLOR MAGAZINE PENCIL Filed March 28, 1951INVENTOR. FRANK WAGNER AIIWH VEY March 18, 1952 F. WAGNER 2,589,905

FOUR-COLOR MAGAZINE PENCIL Filed March 28, 1951 2 SHEETSSHEET 2 FRANKWAGNER BY Patented Mar. 18, 1952 UNITED STATES PTENT OFFICE laims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in a magazinepencil.

More particularly, the pres-nt invention proposes certain improvementsin a magazine or socalled four-color pencil designed so that projectionof any desired one of the several writing material carriers is effectedby longitudinal sliding of a tubular barrel relative to a tubular bodyhousing the carriers.

Another object of the present invention proposes rotatively mounting acap on the outer end of the tubular barrel in a manner so that the capcan be rotated to make s"le"tion of the desired writing material carrierwhich is to be extended from the tubular body.

A still further object of the present invention proposes a memberfixedly mounted within the tubular body and having about its peripherygrooves within which the writing material carriers are slidablysupported in a manner to be selectively extended to operative positionby the sliding action of the tubular barrel relative to the tubularbody.

Still further, the present invention proposes providing each of thewriting material carriers with a self contained resilient meansconnected in a novel manner to said member for holding said carriers ina position retracted into the tubular body.

Another object of the present invention proposes a pus er sleeve whichis rotatively and slidably positioned relative to the member and whichis rotatively but non-slidably conne-ted to said tubular barrel andfixedly connected to said cap in a manner to be brought into anoperative position with relation to one of the writing material carrierswhen the cap is rotated and to eject that one carrier when the tubularbarrel is slid relative to the tubular body.

The present invention further proposes providing each of the writingmaterial carriers at their ends located within the grooves of themembers with radially extended ribs and providing the pusher sleeve witha single inwardly pressed portion arranged in a manner to be broughtinto position over the top end of the ribs as the cap is turned toeffect the extension of the carriers when the tubular barrel is slid.

Another object of the present invention proposes providing each of thewriting material carriers with rotatively mounted tubular members attheir writing ends arranged in a manner to be turned relative to thecarrier in the extended position thereof for extending the writingmaterial or writing. leads carried by each of the carmere.

Still further, the present invention proposes arranging the ribspreviously referred to so that they function to maintain the writingmaterial carriers against rotation so that the rotatively mountedtubular members can be rotated to extend the writing material of each ofthe carriers.

The present invention further proposes the construction of a magazinepencil which is simple and durable, which is effective for its intendedpurposes and which can be manufactured and sold at a reasonable cost.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects andadvantages thereof. reference will be had to the following descriptionand accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which thevarious novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of the magazine pencil constructed inaccordance with the present invention and shown with all of the writingmat rial carriers in a retracted position.

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1, but with one of the writing materialcarriers shown in its operative extended position.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional View taken on the line 33of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detailed view of a portion of Fig. 3. v

Fig. 5 is an enlarged view similar to Fig. '3, but with a portion of thecenter thereof broken away and showing the position of the parts in theoperative extended position of one of the writing material carriers.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged transverse sectional view taken on the line G6 ofFig. 3.

Fig. '7 is an enlarged transverse sectional view taken on the line 1-1of Fig. 4, but with dot and dash lines added to show the position of thepusher sleeve.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged transverse sectional view taken on'the line 8-8 ofFig. 4.

Fig. 9 is a developed view of the cap used on the pencil.

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the' pusher sleeve, per se.

Fig. 11 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional View of one of the writingmaterial carriers,'per

Fig. 12 is an enlarged transverse sectional view tak n on. the line '2l2 of Fig. 11.

Fig. 13 is a perspective view of one of the rotatively mounted tubularmembers located at the writing end of the writing material carrier.

Fig. 14 is a perspective view of one of the feed members used in thewriting material carriers.

The magazine pencil, according to the present invention, includes atubular body which is preferably shaped of metal and which is octagonalin cross-section over the greater portion of its length. If desired, thetubular body can be molded of one of the synthetic resin materialseitherthermosetting or thermoplasticor of any other similar material commonlyused in the construction of the so-called mechanical or fourcolorpencils. The tubular body has an open end 2| and a tapered end 22 formedwith a single hole 23 located on the longitudinal axis of the tubularbody 20.

slidably positioned over the open end 2| of the tubular body 20, thereis a tubular barrel 24 preferably formed of the same material used forforming the tubular body. However, if desired, the tubular barrel 24 canbe formed of material different from that used for forming the tubularbody 20 so as to enhance the decorative appearance of the pencil. Thetubular barrel 24 is also octagonal in cross-section and the tolerancesbetween the outer periphery of the tubular body 20 and the innerperiphery of the tubular barrel 24 is such that the frictional contactbetween those surfaces will hold the tubular barrel 24 in any positionto which it might be slid along the length of the tubular body 20. It isappreciated, of course, that the interfitted octagonal shapes of thetubular body 20 and the tubular barrel 24 will hold those parts againstrotative movement with relation to each other, but still leave them freefor axial sliding movements.

Fixedly secured to one side of the tubular barrel 24 there is the usualclip 25 by which the pencil can be hooked into position on the materialof a garment pocket, within a handbag or to similar supports, all asgenerally known in the art.

Located within the tubular body 20 closely adjacent the open end 2|thereof, there is a member 26 formed of metal and having a plurality ofgrooves 21 evenly spaced about the periphery thereof. The top portion 26of the member 26, see particularly Fig. 7, is round in cross-section andof a diameter smaller than the inside area of the tubular body 20. Thebottom portion 26 of the member 25 is octagonal in shape conforming tothe interior cross-sectional shape of the tubular body 20. The bottomportion 23 is considerably shorter than the top portion 25 and theoctagonal shape of the bottom portion functions to retain the member 25against rotative movement relative to the tubular body 23. The member 26is secured in position within the tubular body 20 by means of a setscrew 28, see Fig. 8, which passes through a hole 23 formed in thetubular body 2|] and which is threaded into a recess 30 formed in oneside of the bottom portion 26 of the member 26.

A plurality of writing material carriers 3| is positioned within thetubular body ZiI-one carrier 3| for each of the grooves 21 in the member26. In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the member 26 isformed with four grooves 21 so that there are four writing materialcarriers 3|.

rib pressed into the groove 34 rotatively interconnecting the bodyportion 32 and the tubular member 33.

A feed member 38 is positioned within each of the tubular members 33.The feed members 36 have fiat head portions 3? and integral stemportions 38. The flat head portions have their side edges extendingthrough slots 40 formed in diametrically opposite sides of the tubularmembers 33 and provided with exposed thread members 4|, see particularlyFig. 14. A continuous screw thread is formed in the adjacent end of thetubular body portion 32 and is engaged by the thread members 4|, asshown most clearly in Fig. 11. The free end of the stem portions 38 ofthe feed members 35 are engaged behind pieces of lead 43 slidablypositioned within the tubular members 33. Thus, when the tubular members33 are turned in the right direction relative to the tubular bodyportions 32, the feed members 35 will be moved axially within thetubular members 33 to extend the leads 43 from the ends of the tubularmembers to be efiectively held for writing purposes. As is generallyknown in the art of mechanical pencils, the leads 43 are frictionallyheld against falling axially out of the ends of the tubular members 33.It is appreciated, of course, that each of the writing material carriers3| is provided with a lead 43 of a different color.

The end portions of the tubular body portions 32 of the writing materialcarriers 3| are slidably positioned within the grooves 21 of the member28. The inner ends of the grooves 2'| are substantially completelyround, as shown in Figs. '7 and 8 to nearly completely encircle the bodyportion 32. Those top end portions of the tubular body portions 32 havefixed thereto ribs 44 which are slidably disposed in the outer portionsof the grooves 27 so that those ribs extend radially of the member 23.The ribs 44 function to retain the tubular body portions 32 of theWriting material carriers 3| for rotating, so that when the writing endsof the carriers 3| are extended through the hole 23 in the tapered end22 of the tubular body 23, as shown in Figs. 2 and 5, the projecting endof the tubular members 33 can be ripped to be turned relative to thetubular body portion 32 for extending the lead 43.

Means is provided for holding the writing material carriers 3| in aposition retracted into the tubular body 20, as shown in Fig. 3. Thatholding means is a resilient one and is comprised of a rod 45 whichextends coaxially from the end of the member 26 at the open end 2| ofthe main body 20. The rod45 is integrally formed with the member 23 andhas a small apertured disc 46 engaged thereon and rested against the endof the member 25. The disc 46 is maintained in position against the endof the member 26 by means of a tubular rod 41 which is threaded onto therod 45 and against the adjacent face of the disc 46, see Figs. 3 to 5.The end of the tubular rod 4? remote from the disc 46 is formed with anenlarged head 48 for a purpose which will be come clear as thisdescription proceeds.

Slidably positioned Within each of the tubular body portions 32 of thewriting material carriers 3|, there is a stem 49 which has its top endpassed through an inwardly directed annular shoulder 50 formed at thetop end of the tubular body portion 32. The free outer ends of the stems49 are passed through holes 5| formed in the disc 46 and formed withenlargements 52 which retain the stems 49 from being pulled out of theholes 5|. The inner ends of the stems 49 have mounted thereon blocks 53and expansion springs 54 within thetubular body portions 32,

see 'Figs. land 11, are engaged about the stems '49 and-operate betweenthe blocks 53and the the springs 54 exert a sufficient force to maintainthe writing material carriers 3! in the inoperative positionretractedinto the tubular body 20,- those springs do not exert a forcesufficient to overcome the frictional contact between the surfaces ofthe tubular body 213 and the tubular lbarrel 24 which holds the barrel26 in any desired position on the tubular body to which the barrel21l-might be manually slid.

'Means is'further provided for moving adesired writing material carrier3! into a desired operative extended position as shown in Figs. 2

and 5 to be used for writing. That means is comprised of a pusher sleeve55 which is circular in cross-section. The sleeve 55 is of a diameterto'pass over the top portion 2 6 of the member 26 and to fit rotativelywithin the open top end 21 of the tubular body 23 with the outerperiphery of that sleeve contacting the flat surfaces of the walls ofthat tubular body. Intermediate or its ends, the'pusher sleeve 55 isformed with an internal collar 55, see Figs. 3 to 5, which surrounds thetubular rod 41. When the pen- "c'il is" in the inoperative positionshown in Figs.

1- 'and 3, the top face of the collar 56 abuts the bottom face oftheenlarged head 48 holding the tubular barrel 24 from being pulled offthe end of the tubular body 20, as will become clear asthisspecification proceeds. In the operative pos'ition of the pencilshownin Figs. 2 and 5, the bottom face of the collar 55 abuts the topface of the enlargements 52 which engage the top face of the disc 46.

Externally, and at a location Slightly above the collar 56, the pushersleeve 55 is formed with an external collar 57. The outer end of thetubular barriel 24 is formed with an inwardly directed annular flange 58which rests on the top face of the annular collar 5T. Fitted over thetop of the pusher sleeve 55 there is a hollow cap 59. The cap is securedto the pusher sleeve 55 by means of a set screw G0 threaded throughcomplementary holes 6| and 82 formed in the cap 59 and the pusher sleeve55 respectively. The bottom end of the cap 59 is seated down on the topface of the flange 58 so that the pusher sleeve 55, through the mediumof the cap 59, can be rotated relative to the tubular barrel'td. Therelationship between the collar 11, flange 58 and the-cap 59 is suchthat the pusher sleeve 55 cannot be moved axially relative to thetubular barrel 24, but the pusher sleeve 55 moves as a unit with thetubular barrel 24 when the barrel is slid relative to the tubular body26.

lhe end of the pusher sleeve 55 remote from the cap' 59 is formed with asingle inwardly pressed portion 63, see 3, 5 and-10, for engagementwith'the top ends of the ribs 44 carried by the writing materialcarriers 3!, in the various rotative positions of the pusher sleeve Whenthe pusher sleeve 55 is in the raised position shown in Fig. '3, "theinwardly pressed portion G3 will be located above the top of the member26 so that the pusher sleeve 55 will be free to be rotated within thetubular body 23 by turning the cap 59 relative to the tubular barrel 23. However, in the operative'position of the pencil, shown'in Fig. 5,the'inwardly pressed portion 63 'will be located 6 within one of thegrooves 21 holding the'push'er sleeve against being rotated until suchtime as the tubular barrel 24 is again raised to its inoperativeposition relative to the tubular body.

Indicator-means is provided'in connection with the cap' 59 forindicating which of the writing material carriers 3| theinwardly pressedportion 63 is aligned with. The'indicator means is characterized by fourequally spaced'notches 64 64, 64 and 64 formed about the end of the cap59 abutted against the flange 59. Each of the notches is painted adilferent color to indicate the colors of the four leads '43 within thewriting material carriers 3i. As specifically shown inFig. 9, the notch65. is black, the notch 64 is blue, the notch is red and the notch fi'is green. One of each of the carriers 3| has a colored leadcorresponding in color to the color of one of the notches t i M 64 or BaThe colors shown on the drawing are by way of illustration only and ifdesired, the notches can be differently colored to indicate othercolored leads 43 to be positioned within the carriers 3!.

To indicate the particular carrier'3l with which the inwardly pressedportion 63 is aligned, the cap 59 must be turned until the desiredcolored notch 54. 66 65 or 5 3 is brought in position directly over thepocket clip 25. In such position, the inwardly pressed portion 63 willbe brought directly into position directly over the rib 44 of thewriting material carrier 3! having the desired colored lead it.

Remote from the tubular barrel 24, the head 59 is formed with anenlarged portion 59 which has peripheral knurling 65 by which a grip canbe had on the cap for turning the same to bring the desired colorednotch St 64 64 or tie into position over the clip 25.

The manner of using the magazine pencil constructed in accordance withthe present invention, is as follows:

Normally the pencil will be carried in a garment pocket, pocketbook orthe like with the tubular barrel 2 in the position shown in Figs. 1 and3 in which all of the writing material carriers 3| are retracted intothe tubular body 20. For the purpose of discussion, let it be assumedthat it is desired to write with the blue colored lead 43. To do that,the cap 59 is first turned to bring the blue notch Ed into positiondirectly over the clip 25, as shown particlarly in Figs. 1 and 2. RIO-tation of the cap 59 also rotates the pusher sleeve 55 bringing theinwardly pressed portion 63 into position directly over the rib 44 ofthe writing material carrier 3i having the blue lead 43. W hen therotation of the cap 59 is completed, the tubular barrel it is pusheddownward on the top end of the tubular body 26 causing the inwardlypressed portion 63 to'enter the groove 21 with which it is aligned andpushed downward on the respective rib M and move that writing materialcarrier 3! downward within the groove 21. Sliding of that writingmaterial carrier 3 l' is effected against the holding action of itsspring '54 and the free end of that carrier will slide al'ong the innerface of the tapered end 22 of the tubular body until the lead 43 and aportion of the tubular member 33 of that carrier is extended from thehole 23 in the tapered end 22 of the tubular body 213, as shown in Figs.2 and 5. The pencil can now be used to make blue markings and thefrictional contact between the surfaces of the tubular body 28 and thetubular barrel 24' is suificient to hold the pencil in the operativeposition against the action ofthe spring 54 of the extended carrier andany normal writin pressures angular operative position shown in Fig. 5.

carrier from turning during rotation of the tubular member 33. Thesupply of lead 43 in any one of the carriers 3| can also be replacedwhile the carrier is in the operative extended position shown in Fig. 5.

When writing is com leted and it is desired to draw the carrier 3| backinto position within the tubular barrel 24, it is merely necessary todraw upward on the tubular barrel 24 which will also draw upward on thepusher sleeve 55 and move the inwardly pressed portion 63 out of the topend of the groove 2'! with which it was engaged. That will free theextended writing material carrier 3| to be drawn back to its inoperativeposition shown in Fig. 3 by the respective spring 54. So lon as theinwardly pressed portion 63 is located within one of the grooves 21 itis impossible to rotate the cap 59.

When the tubular barrel 24 is pulled completely outward, the cap 59 isagain free to be rotated to bring a difierently colored notch intoalignment with the clip 25 so that on next downward movement of thetubular barrel 24 the writing material carrier 3| carrying the lead 43corresponding to that differently colored notch will be operativelyextended from the hole 23 in tapered end 22 of the tubular body 213.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiment of myinvention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to theprecise construction herein disclosed and the right is reserved to allchanges and modifications coming within the scope of the invention asdefined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by United States Letters Patent is:

1. A magazine pencil comprising a tubular body having one end open andits other end tapered to a hole on the axis of said body, a tubularbarrel axially slidably butnon-rotatively positioned over the said openend of said body, a member fixedly mounted within said body adjacent theopen end thereof and formed with a plurality of grooves, a plurality ofwriting material carriers one for each of said grooves positioned withinsaid body to have their writing ends extended through said hole, each ofsaid carriers having their top ends slidably engaged in one of saidgrooves, resilient means holding said carriers in raised positions insaid grooves in which their writing ends will be retracted into saidbody, and means controlled by axial sliding of said barrel relative tosaid body for selectively sliding one of said carriers relative to saidmember and against the action of said resilient means for extending thewriting end thereof through said hole, said carrier sliding meanscomprising a pusher sleeve within the open end of said tubular body andabove the adjacent end of said member, a rod extending concentricallyfrom said member, an internal shoulder formed Within said pusher sleeveand surrounding said rod,

8 means retaining said pusher sleeve fromlbeing pulled off the end ofsaid rod, means connecting said pusher sleeve to said tubular barrel forrotative movement relative thereto, said pusher sleeve having an endportion projecting from said tubular barrel, a cap fixed onto theprojecting end of said tubular barrel by which said sleeve can berotated relative to said tubular barrel, ribs on said carriers extendedoutward in said grooves, -and an inwardly pressed portion formed on saidsleeve to be brought selectively into position over the ribs of saidcarriers as said sleeve is rotated.

2. A magazine pencil comprising a tubular body having one end open andits other end tapered to a hole on the axis of said body, a tubularbarrel axially slidably but non-rotatively positioned over the said openend of said body, a member fixedly mounted within said body adjacent theopen end thereof and formed with a plurality of grooves, a plurality ofwriting material carriers one for each of said grooves positioned Withinsaid body to have their writing ends extended through said hole, each ofsaid carriers having their top ends slidably engaged in one of saidgrooves, resilient means holding said carriers in raised positions insaid grooves in which their writing ends will be retracted into saidbody, and means controlled by axial sliding of said barrel relative tosaid body for selectively sliding one of said carriers relative to saidmember and against the action of said resilient means for extending thewriting end thereof through said hole, said carrier sliding meanscomprising a pusher sleeve within the open end of said tubular body andabove the adjacent end of said member, a rod extending concentricallyfrom said member, an internal shoulder formed within said pusher sleeveand surrounding said rod, means retaining said pusher sleeve from beingpulled off the end of said rod, means connecting said pusher sleeve tosaid tubular barrel for rotative movement relative thereto, said pushersleeve having an end portion projecting from said tubular barrel, a capfixed onto the projecting end of said tubular barrel by which saidsleeve can be rotated relative to said tubular barrel, ribs on saidcarriers extended outward in said grooves, and an inwardly pressedportion formed on said sleeve to be brought selectively into positionover the ribs of said carriers as said sleeve is rotated, said pushersleeve retaining means comprising an enlarged head formed on the freeend of said rod to be engaged by said internal collar.

3. A magazine pencil comprising a tubular body having one end open andits other end tapered to a hole on the axis of said body, a tubularbarrel axially slidably but non-rotatively positioned over the said openend of said body, a member fixedly mounted within said body adjacent theopen end thereof and formed with a plurality of grooves, a plurality ofwriting material carriers one for each of said grooves positioned withinsaid body to have their writing ends extended through said hole, each ofsaid carriers having their top ends slidably engaged in one of saidgrooves, resilient means holding said carriers in raised positions insaid grooves in which their writing ends will be retracted into saidbody, and means controlled by axial sliding of said barrel relative tosaid body for selectively sliding one of said carriers relative to saidmember and against the action of said resilient means for extending thewriting end thereof through said hole, said carrier sliding meanscomprising a pusher sleeve within the open end of said tubular body andabove the adjacent end of said member, a rod extending concentricallyfrom said member, an internal shoulder formed within said pusher sleeveand surrounding said rod, means retaining said pusher sleeve from beingpulled ofi the end of said rod, means connecting said pusher sleeve tosaid tubular barrel for rotative movement relative thereto, said pushersleeve having an end portion projecting from said tubular barrel, a capfixed onto the projecting end of said tubular barrel by which saidsleeve can be rotated relative to said tubular barrel, ribs on saidcarriers extended outward in said grooves, and an inwardly pressedportion formed on said sleeve to be brought selectively into positionover the ribs of said carriers as said sleeve is rotated, saidconnecting means comprising an external collar formed on said pushersleeve and spaced slightly from said cap, and an inwardly directedflange formed on said tubular barrel and engaged between said externalcollar and said cap.

4. A magazine pencil comprising a tubular body having one end open andits other end tapered to a hole on the axis of said body, a tubularbarrel axially slidably but non-rotatively positioned over the said openend of said body, a member fixedly mounted within said body adjacent theopen end thereof and formed with a plurality of grooves, a plurality ofwriting material carriers one for each of said grooves positioned withinsaid body to have their writing ends extended through said hole, each ofsaid carriers having their top ends slidably engaged in one of saidgrooves, resilient means holding said carriers in raised positions insaid grooves in which their writing ends will be retracted into saidbody, and means controlled by axial sliding of said barrel relative tosaid body for selectively sliding one of said carriers relative to saidmember and against the action of said resilient means for extending thewriting end thereof through said hole, said 10 carrier sliding meanscomprisin a pusher sleeve within the open end of said tubular body andabove the adjacent end of said member, a rod extending concentricallyfrom said member, an internal shoulder formed Within said pusher sleeveand surrounding said rod, means retaining said pusher sleeve from beingpulled off the end of said rod, means connecting said pusher sleeve tosaid tubular barrel for rotative movement relative thereto, said pushersleeve having an end portion projecting from said tubular barrel, a capfixed onto the projecting end of said tubular barrel by which saidsleeve can be rotated relative to said tubular barrel, ribs on saidcarriers extended outward in said grooves, and an inwardly pressedportion formed on said sleeve to be brought selectively into positionover the ribs of said carriers as said sleeve is rotated, and a clipmounted on one side of said tubular barrel, said cap having at its end aplurality of evenly spaced notches one for each of said carriers to beselectively brought into position over said clip to indicate which ofsaid carriers the inwardly pressed portion of said pusher sleeve isaligned with, said notches being differently colored to correspond withthe color of the writing leads carried by said writing materialcarriers.

FRANK WAGNER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,593,347 Nardi July 20, 19262,113,320 Fend Apr. 5, 1938 2,163,515 Fend June 20, 1939 FOREIGN PATENTSNumber Country Date 253,969 Switzerland Dec. 1, 1948

